Richard Hamblin
@rmhamblin.bsky.social
Measuring how society operates. Health system geekery. Polling nerdery. Popular music from about 1978 to 1982. Football from about 1970-2000. Cat videos. Yeah that’ll do
youtu.be/liRd9pjSBDA. Well this is superb.
BILLY BRAGG - PUT CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS
YouTube video by Billy Bragg
youtu.be
December 13, 2025 at 8:17 PM
youtu.be/liRd9pjSBDA. Well this is superb.
Well I bloody wasn’t.
December 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Well I bloody wasn’t.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=RYPR...
So with this and the newsagents does rather seem the Global are doing a much better job at defending their competitors the BBC than the BBC are doing at defending themselves (and yes I can guess the reason why)
So with this and the newsagents does rather seem the Global are doing a much better job at defending their competitors the BBC than the BBC are doing at defending themselves (and yes I can guess the reason why)
Why the dossier that took down the BBC might be wrong
YouTube video by LBC
m.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:01 AM
m.youtube.com/watch?v=RYPR...
So with this and the newsagents does rather seem the Global are doing a much better job at defending their competitors the BBC than the BBC are doing at defending themselves (and yes I can guess the reason why)
So with this and the newsagents does rather seem the Global are doing a much better job at defending their competitors the BBC than the BBC are doing at defending themselves (and yes I can guess the reason why)
This is why the false equivalence of far left/far right is so dangerous. The far right is genuinely about ending democracy and the rule of law and killing people. The ‘far left’ is rather less Stalinism and more this Judean People’s Front silliness
🔴 Whose Party? Your Party Backers in Call to ‘Democratise’ Left-Wing Group as Corbyn & Sultana Clash Over ‘Sexist Boys Club’
As Corbyn-Sultana tensions explode into the public arena, a new group is mobilising members to demand a ‘genuine say’ in the new party’s direction
As Corbyn-Sultana tensions explode into the public arena, a new group is mobilising members to demand a ‘genuine say’ in the new party’s direction
Whose Party? Your Party Members Call to 'Democratise' Left-Wing Party as Corbyn and Sultana Clash Over 'Sexist Boys Club'
As Corbyn-Sultana tensions explode into the public arena, a new group is mobilising members to demand a ‘genuine say’ in the new party's direction
bylinetimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This is why the false equivalence of far left/far right is so dangerous. The far right is genuinely about ending democracy and the rule of law and killing people. The ‘far left’ is rather less Stalinism and more this Judean People’s Front silliness
But but but someone told me he was a Marxist who would destroy hard working entrepreneurs. It’s almost as if democratic socialism and SMEs work hand in hand hand.
It’s time this city empowered small businesses—not bury them in fines, fees and endless bureaucracy.
Here’s my plan.
Here’s my plan.
August 22, 2025 at 2:57 AM
But but but someone told me he was a Marxist who would destroy hard working entrepreneurs. It’s almost as if democratic socialism and SMEs work hand in hand hand.
Blimey. Who’dathunk? Coming next year. 16000 millionaires still in Britain. Lie. Rinse. Repeat. Don’t worry the BBC will still report you as fact/invite you on QuestionTime/not bother to point out all your previous lies
New post just out:
"The Great VAT Panic"
The claims made by the right-wing press about VAT on private school fees were wildly wrong.
Why? What are the lessons about about (how not to) run a lobbying campaign? And what can government learn?
(£/free)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
"The Great VAT Panic"
The claims made by the right-wing press about VAT on private school fees were wildly wrong.
Why? What are the lessons about about (how not to) run a lobbying campaign? And what can government learn?
(£/free)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...
The Great VAT Panic
Or how not to run a campaign
open.substack.com
August 10, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Blimey. Who’dathunk? Coming next year. 16000 millionaires still in Britain. Lie. Rinse. Repeat. Don’t worry the BBC will still report you as fact/invite you on QuestionTime/not bother to point out all your previous lies
Really can’t get my head round this. A really big family house is like 250sqm / 2500sq ft. No?
I waste a lot of time browsing Zillow and don't understand the American preference for larger generic home (3k - 10k sq feet) instead of smaller home with beautiful architecture (1.5 - 3k sq feet)
July 24, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Really can’t get my head round this. A really big family house is like 250sqm / 2500sq ft. No?
www.theguardian.com/education/20.... I can’t be the only person to think that stopping artificial house price inflation is actually a good thing? Baffled that a presumably intelligent person make such a terrible argument in favour of a not very good system.
End to school rating system could play havoc with house prices, says Ofsted chief
Martyn Oliver says he knows of property values shooting up by £15,000 after schools were graded as outstanding
www.theguardian.com
July 4, 2025 at 1:55 AM
www.theguardian.com/education/20.... I can’t be the only person to think that stopping artificial house price inflation is actually a good thing? Baffled that a presumably intelligent person make such a terrible argument in favour of a not very good system.
So the mask has slipped and he’s openly advocating fascism. And everyone will ignore it.
You’ve never done anything but break things
June 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
So the mask has slipped and he’s openly advocating fascism. And everyone will ignore it.
I’ve seen bigger crowds at Accrington Stanley.
Honestly I still can’t stop laughing 😂😅🤣
June 16, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I’ve seen bigger crowds at Accrington Stanley.
Erm - precisely this.
Also, asking homeowners for permission would kill the burglary industry.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
May 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Erm - precisely this.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
The platonic ideal of the arrogant private sector tit, who comes in shouting about efficiency and being business-like, wrecks the place, then buggers off when he realises it’s a lot more complex than he thought (or what he’s used to)
The platonic ideal of the arrogant private sector tit, who comes in shouting about efficiency and being business-like, wrecks the place, then buggers off when he realises it’s a lot more complex than he thought (or what he’s used to)
Everything is blowing up in Elon Musk’s face
Analysis: All it took was losing US$100 billion in three months to make Musk change his tune.
www.rnz.co.nz
April 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
The platonic ideal of the arrogant private sector tit, who comes in shouting about efficiency and being business-like, wrecks the place, then buggers off when he realises it’s a lot more complex than he thought (or what he’s used to)
The platonic ideal of the arrogant private sector tit, who comes in shouting about efficiency and being business-like, wrecks the place, then buggers off when he realises it’s a lot more complex than he thought (or what he’s used to)
A sign that we are in the end of days surely…
March 1, 2025 at 11:21 PM
A sign that we are in the end of days surely…
Of course the “worlds oldest democracy” only became one in the mid 1960s; but otherwise on point…
February 17, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Of course the “worlds oldest democracy” only became one in the mid 1960s; but otherwise on point…
Reposted by Richard Hamblin
Nigel Farage here, lasting a grand total of three sentences between claiming he's not a racist, and saying something racist
February 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Nigel Farage here, lasting a grand total of three sentences between claiming he's not a racist, and saying something racist
👇
I note that Keir Starmer has come out against the Trump Netanyahu plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza, while Farage has backed it and Badenoch is silent.
As the grandson of a survivor of the Armenian genocide, this matters. Don’t believe the lie that all politicians are the same
As the grandson of a survivor of the Armenian genocide, this matters. Don’t believe the lie that all politicians are the same
February 7, 2025 at 8:09 AM
👇
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Good news. I look forward to breathlessly excited retractions if last week’s gloom and doom from the usual suspects. /s
Good news. I look forward to breathlessly excited retractions if last week’s gloom and doom from the usual suspects. /s
Unexpected drop in inflation lifts pressure off Rachel Reeves
UK chancellor has had tough week but latest figure sends yield of UK government bonds tumbling
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2025 at 1:31 AM
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Good news. I look forward to breathlessly excited retractions if last week’s gloom and doom from the usual suspects. /s
Good news. I look forward to breathlessly excited retractions if last week’s gloom and doom from the usual suspects. /s
Yeah going to agree with this. Truly vile human. More responsible than anyone (even Truss, Dacre or Murdoch) for the UK’s parlous state
I seem to have upset the Nigel Farage fan club - so let me be clear.
This man sows hate, lies and division.
He is a grifter and a conman.
He does not represent the vast majority of Britons.
Repost if you agree
P.s. multiculturalism is great.
This man sows hate, lies and division.
He is a grifter and a conman.
He does not represent the vast majority of Britons.
Repost if you agree
P.s. multiculturalism is great.
December 28, 2024 at 3:35 AM
Yeah going to agree with this. Truly vile human. More responsible than anyone (even Truss, Dacre or Murdoch) for the UK’s parlous state
This is so powerful. In 2050 this will be quoted as an example of infamy in the manner of the Daily Mail’s ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts’
December 13, 2024 at 3:57 AM
This is so powerful. In 2050 this will be quoted as an example of infamy in the manner of the Daily Mail’s ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts’
Really like these data and suspect this is will be similar in Europe and most of the anglosphere. The point being that noisy people and normal people is a Venn diagram with very little overlap.
This is sort of fascinating because if you were to turn on pretty much any talk radio station or pick up any tabloid, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was the inverse.
December 12, 2024 at 3:03 AM
Really like these data and suspect this is will be similar in Europe and most of the anglosphere. The point being that noisy people and normal people is a Venn diagram with very little overlap.
Badenoch’s homeopathic career strategy. A thimble full of talent in an ocean of ambition.
Kemi Badenoch at #PMQs: "We had a budget in March this year and tractors were not blockading the streets of Whitehall afterwards."
Here are the tractors blockading the streets of Whitehall in March this year. They were protesting - you really couldn't make this up - Badenoch's trade policies. 😂
Here are the tractors blockading the streets of Whitehall in March this year. They were protesting - you really couldn't make this up - Badenoch's trade policies. 😂
November 27, 2024 at 6:31 PM
Badenoch’s homeopathic career strategy. A thimble full of talent in an ocean of ambition.
Worth recognising what a billion is. A million seconds ago was the middle of last week. A billion was the early days of Britpop. 348 billion was in the middle of the last ice age.
$348 billion is enough to end democracy.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/enough-wea...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/enough-wea...
Enough Wealth to Warp the Universe
What can you buy for $348 billion?
www.hamiltonnolan.com
November 27, 2024 at 3:36 AM
Worth recognising what a billion is. A million seconds ago was the middle of last week. A billion was the early days of Britpop. 348 billion was in the middle of the last ice age.
Reposted by Richard Hamblin
$348 billion is enough to end democracy.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/enough-wea...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/enough-wea...
Enough Wealth to Warp the Universe
What can you buy for $348 billion?
www.hamiltonnolan.com
November 25, 2024 at 5:05 PM
$348 billion is enough to end democracy.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/enough-wea...
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/enough-wea...
This is an important thread. Nice to have, y’know, facts and analysis.
New data on farms and inheritance tax: a third of farm estates over £1.5m aren’t farmers but wealthy people avoiding IHT by sinking money into farmland.
The Budget hits farmers too hard and tax avoiders too lightly. It needs to change.
The Budget hits farmers too hard and tax avoiders too lightly. It needs to change.
November 24, 2024 at 9:45 PM
This is an important thread. Nice to have, y’know, facts and analysis.